Incandescent-electric-lawip base



(N0 Model.)

F. 0. ROCKWELL. INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP BASE.

No. 488,222. PaQtented'Dec. 20, 1892.

FREDERICK C. ROCKWELL, CF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

INCANDEsCENT ELECTRlc -LAMP BASE. 7

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,222, dated December 20, 1892. Application filed December 26, 1891. $eria1llo. 416,162. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK 0.11001;- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Electric-Lamp Bases, of which the following is a 'full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to the portion of an incandescent electric lamp at the base of the globe in which the leading wires of the filament are connected with the circuit wires.

The object of the invention is to provide an ornamental, cheap, simple and efficient base which may be made key or keyless, of insulating material in two parts that are readily and easily united or taken apart, also a base in which the connections and conducting parts are so separated that they cannot be connected by gathering moisture or dirt and thus short circuit a current passing through the base.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a base provided with a key. Fig. 2 is a smilar section of the same on a different plane, with a part broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan looking into the socket or cup part of the base. Fig. 4 is a plan of the globe part of the base; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a base without any connections or conductors. I

In the views 1 indicates the end of the globe of anincandescent electriclamp of any pattern or make, having the usual filament and leads. To the end of the globe is secured a bottom 2 which is molded, cast, or pressed of rubber composition or any insulating materials, in one piece with a cavity to receive the globe. If the end of the globe to which the bottom is to be attached is re-entrant, as shown, a diaphragm or partition 3 may be formed across the cavity dividing itinto two chambers. The upper part of the bottom is also preferably formed with a cavity the walls of which, when pressed, are provided 'with a screw thread, but this thread, if desired, may be made on the exterior of the bottom. Pieces 4, of brass, copper, or other suitable conducting material, are molded into the bottom when it is formed, and the lead wires to the filament connected to these pieces. It is preferred that these pieces should have a slight spring and to permit this a space 5 is left beneath them when the bottom is formed.

A concave or socketed shell 6, cast, molded, pressed, or otherwise formed of insulating composition similarly to the bottom, provided at its open end with a thread, is secured to the bottom so that the completed base is practicallya single piece of insulating material. It is preferred that this shell or socket shall have an integral dividing partition 7, so that when the shell is screwed to the bottom two chambers are formed in the interior. Through the closed end of the shell, which may or may not have a projecting hub, a perforation is made to each chamber for the entrance of the circuit wires, and in this end so as to project into each chamber when the shell is formed are molded connected posts 8 and 9, of conducting material, as brass or copper. These posts are preferably bent from a single piece of metallic tube, the posts 8 being slitted so that they may receive and grasp the bared ends of the circuit wires to form. the connection without further manipulation. One of the posts 9 projects downward so as to come into contact with one of the pieces 4 in the bottom when the parts are screwed together, while the other post, if it is a key socket, bears a tube 10 of conducting material. This tube has a sliding movement on the post and is kept from rotation by means of a pin 11 that passes through the post and a slot in the tube. A spring 12 normally tends to draw and hold the tube to the closed end of the shell, and from the side of the tube a lug 13 projects into the plane of the key. The key is preferably formed of a rod 14'supported in perforations in the walls, with the usual handle, and a piece of insulating material 15 of oblong cross-section in the path of the lug 13, so that when the longer diameter of the insulating piece is in contact with the lug the tube will be forced toward the bottom and make contact with one of the pieces 4, but when the shorter diameter is in contact with the lug the tube under the influence of the spring is drawn away from the contact in the bottom. The insulating portion of the key is loosely mounted upon the rod and rotated by means of a pin 16 projecting from the rod into a slot in the insulating piece, so that when the key is turned to break-the circuit the contact is broken suddenly.

If it is desired to make a double break both 5 sets of posts 9 may be provided with the sliding tubes described and the key made to extend across to the other wall of the "shell through the partition, or the partition may be removed, and for a keyless socket both IO posts are made long enough to extend to the contacts in the bottom, and neither bear sliding tubes, the shells and bottoms however being made similarly for both key and keyless bases. When the shell and bottom are screwed together the partition divides theinteriorinto two entirely separated-chambers so that there can vbe .no "accidental contact between the opposite parts of the circuit, .and so that no moisture ordirt can collect between the two andforrn a circuit whichiwill shunt the current. This is particularly; desirable for .use in connection with high tensions or series lamp-currents which- .cannot beshort vcircuited through the :base described. 1 The 2 5 advantages ofi abase formed integral ot'plastic; material are obvious; it may be madeof high hon-conductivity to preventv any possibility of shocking or short circnitingthrough therbase; .the conducting parts cambe easily o,permanently-am-olded into .position; there is .no, need of separate insulatingpieces; there are no metallic screws tobe fastened or-to work, loose; andithe base may. be madeiin .two .parts which arelformed. uponthe same dies 5 whether or not it is to be-provided with a key. Of course the plastic molded material when i pressed in. dies can be highly. ornamented to produce afine artisticthough cheap finish.

. I- claimyas. my invention 1.-A base-forv an incandescent electric lamp consisting .of a abottom formed of a single piece secured tosthe globe. and bearin g .con-

screwed onto the threaded bottom, with conducting pieces also molded therein, substantially as specified.

.3. In combination'witha base for anincan- .descent electric lamp consisting of abattery formed-of a single-piece of insulating material-bearin g conducting pieces, a shell formed of asinglepiece of insulating material with conducting. :posts molded therein, one being bent. andhaving its shankimolded; into the .insulatingmaterial leaving proj ectin g ends,

one' of. which carries thQnlHQVflblG; member of aswit'chaandthe other being split-.to receive a circuit wire, substantially, as specified.

. 4.;A base for an incandescent electric lamp consistingofl a bottom. formed "of asingIe piece-of insulatingmaterial secured .to the globe and bearing conducting ;pieces, and a shell formed of. asingla 1 piece of -insulating material bearing condaucting posts adapted to receive. the, circuit.- wires, "conducting. tubes sliding-onsaid posts, a keytfondrawingthe tubes in one. direction. and springsf-or drawing the tubes in the opposite directionysub- .stantially as specified.

. FREDERICK C" ROCKWELL. Witnesses:

. H. WILLIAMS, P. .A. PHELPS. 

